Top ten things to do while waiting for a response from a publisher

The following is a mostly accurate account of some of the things I did while waiting to hear back from the publisher to whom I’d sent off the manuscript of my first poetry collection. If you have a representative, I suppose there’s a number 11, which is ‘Don’t pester your agent every 15 seconds’.

Develop a methodology, loosely defined as tantric bloody mindedness, to prevent you from refreshing your email inbox every ten minutes to see if you have a reply from a publisher.

Do the washing up, after your partner reminds you that it’s highly unlikely that any publisher will respond to a submission on Saturday night, especially when Strictly’s on.

Visit various bookshops local to you to start making space for your opus. This behaviour may be frowned upon by less understanding members of staff, but reassure them that it is standard New Book Marketing PracticeTM.

Buy an expensive new notebook, because it’s obviously impossible to start writing book 2 without one.

Ask me if there’s a number 12 at the 26 Wordstock Deconstructed event Getting Published, on 28 November – more details here.

Richard Burdett has seen the advertising landscape change over the years. He spent 11 years at Saatchi & Saatchi, was the Head of Marketing at UKTV, Head of 4Creative and is now MD of Horse & Country.

26, and the English department at King’s College London, are incredibly excited to announce a talk about the past, present, and future of advertising. In this talk on the past, present and future, Richard Burdett will explore how we got here and where we’re going next.

The event will take place on Wednesday 21st February 2018 at 7pm, in the Nash Lecture Theatre (K2.31) at King’s College London (Strand Campus).

Admission is free, but you must book a ticket in advance. ... See more

Richard Burdett has seen the advertising landscape change over the years. He spent 11 years at Saatchi & Saatchi, was the Head of Marketing at UKTV, Head of 4Creative and is now MD of Horse & Country.

26, and the English department at King’s College London, are incredibly excited to announce a talk about the past, present, and future of advertising. In this talk on the past, present and future, Richard Burdett will explore how we got here and where we’re going next.

The event will take place on Wednesday 21st February 2018 at 7pm, in the Nash Lecture Theatre (K2.31) at King’s College London (Strand Campus).

Admission is free, but you must book a ticket in advance. ... See more